Ace, you had the same problem I did, finishing them by the deadline but not posting them in time.

I pulled a couple books out now for the spring challenge to start this week.

Thanks for the certificate.

I have been away from home for a few days, without internet access, but I completed these by the deadline:

5. Read A Book Where One Of The Main Characters Has The Same Profession As You.
The Camel Bookmobile (loved it!)
15 points

2. Ann From S.C.'s Task - Read a book that you have started but never finished.
Person-Centred Counselling in a Nutshell (Hated it !)
25 points please

I make that 200 points, which is more than I ever hoped for !

As I said, I'm taking the next 3 months off to read the books I've been saving up because they didn't fit the challenge. However, having seen how much it's got me into my reading, my best friend (not a GR member) is using a printout of the spring challenge to get herself reading more too !
Thanks from us both :-)

Thanks Cynthia. I just got my certificate. It is lovely and you do such a great job. I look forward to participating in many more challenges.

Yeah, I can understand that. I normally go for like weekend trips... Get a hotel for one night, wander around the city, take in a show or something, go to museums or the zoo, and then leave.

That's the way to do it. You get to experience it, and your hubby doesn't have to suffer too long if he hates it! ;)

That sounds lovely. My sister went to NYC on a band trip (!!), AND my entire family (minus me) had a day layover there and got to check out the city for a little bit... Sometimes it sucks being the oldest--I all grown up and married and I don't get to go on family trips anymore, because I can't get off work! :( My hubby and I will get out there someday, although I don't think he'd be a big fan of NYC. He's not really a city guy...

I've lived on the East Coast just about all my life... You should definitely make it a point to visit the east coast one day Sara. NYC is amazing... I'm thinking of going out there this summer for a while- but its only 2 hours away for me!

I've never even been to the east coast. I'd love to go and visit, at least! I've actually never been anywhere east of Arkansas! So sad...

I love Texas though, so I'll deal with having 1 less hour to read. Serves me right for procrastinating so much anyway... ;)

Well, what better reason to move to the East Coast Sara! ;)

Well, don't get me started on how people in the east (England to Australia) have extra time... They can start at 12 am on the start date, but get until 12 Eastern? And I only got until 11 pm, since I'm in Central time zone... *shrugs* I BARELY made it, too. That extra hour would have been lovely!

I dont remember seeing that in the rules. Maybe it needs to be added since this was my first challenge and I was only goign by what was in the official challenge rules

Terri wrote: "lovely. I finished them before then, just dont get on computer that late at night. whatever. I thought it was when you finished them."

Had the same problem terri but well...up to the spring challenge!

yes, i just figured that out. Thanks.

It ended 2/28. The Spring Challenge began on 3/1.

When does the Winter Challenge end?

lovely. I finished them before then, just dont get on computer that late at night. whatever. I thought it was when you finished them.

Sorry points had to be posted before the 12 midnight deadline.

One thing about coming in the challenge late is I ran out of time, had two other books I wanted to read for the challenge - What Do you say to a Naked Elf? And Santa Baby. Ah well....

Yesterday was finish books I have been working on day. LOL
5 POINT TASKS

7. Read A Book Whose Title Starts With The Word Who, What, Where, When, Why Or How.

Where in the World is Osama bin Laden? By Morgan Spurlock

8. Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word Winter, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other winter holiday.

Shop 'Til Yule Drop = Alesoa Holliday, Naomi Neale and Stephanie Rowe

Cynthia, can I still add the last book I finsihed yesterday evening?

5points

romantic novel

Outlander

total 280 points

Well done Sandy, and everyone who reached their goals whatever they were. Im sure you didnt need to get as OCD over it as i did to enjoy it and read some great books. Now question is will i manage to slow to a saner level over the next 3 months..hmm

I was hoping to finish all the task but I'm happy being in the top 20. On to the Spring challenge. I will try to be better.

I know. I read a non-challenge book this week, too. Isn't that terrible? I'm SUCH a procrastinator!!

Sara the time between your completed books post and Cynthias books down was 7 minutes lol..

I know..9 25pointers!

Cynthia wrote: "Send me a message - I sent you one - you can reply to that Sara. "

Thanks--yes, I just saw it. I'll reply soon.

Send me a message - I sent you one - you can reply to that Sara.

That was so frakking close it's unbelievable. *whew*

I know, right?? I had 4 scheduled events I had to go to today, but I still managed to read the last 100 pages of my book. Thank GOODNESS the font was so big, and it was practically double-spaced!!! ;) Is that NINE 25-point tasks???? Geeeeeez. How do we let Cynthia know what we want ours to be?

TIMES UP - BOOKS DOWN - GREAT JOB EVERYBODY!!!!!

thank goodness Sara, i couldnt have coped with you missing out by 5 points! Well done! look forward to your challenge

And well done Darls - we missed you!

WTG Cassie and Sara!

I’m finished! Here’s my final list of books read:

Completed Tasks:

5 Point Tasks (50/50)
1. Josephine and the Soldier by Beverly Jenkins (1/13/09)
2. Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar (12/15/08)
3. Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn (12/28/08)
4. Snowy Night with a Stranger by Jane Feather, Sabrina Jeffries, and Julia London (1/19/09)
5. Ever by Gail Carson Levine (2/28/09)
6. The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher (2/9/09)
7. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (2/23/09)
8. A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas (1/20/09)
9. Half-Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer (12/31/08)
10. Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz (12/4/08)

10 Point Tasks (100/100)
1. Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine (2/4/09)
2. Deck the Halls by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark (2/7/09)
3. Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies (1/26/08)
4. To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn (12/29/08)
5. 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke (1/31/09)
6. Persuasion by Jane Austen (12/8/08)
7. Midnight Eyes by Sarah Brophy (12/10/08)
8. The Accidental Duchess by Jessica Benson (1/18/09)
9. Can You Trust a Tomato in January? by Vince Staten (1/25/09)
10. Sticky Fingers by Niki Burnham (2/11/09)

15 Point Tasks (150/150)
1. Warriors Don't Cry: Searing Memoir of Battle to Integrate Little Rock by Melba Pattillo Beals (12/20/08)
2. Dancer by Lorri Hewett (1/27/09)
3. Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause (1/31/09)
4. A Wind in the Door (1/16/09) and A Swiftly Tilting Planet (1/23/09) by Madeleine L’Engle
5. Pompeii A Novel by Robert Harris (2/11/09)
6. Mount Vernon Love Story: A Novel of George and Martha Washington by Mary Higgins Clark (12/22/08)
7. What I Wish My Christian Friends Knew about Judaism by Robert Schoen (2/4/09)
8. Eat This Not That: Thousands of Simple Food Swaps That Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds--or More! by David Zinczenko (1/16/09)
9. Sense and Sensibility (2/15/09)
10. The Last Jihad by Joel C. Rosenberg (2/24/09)


25 Point Tasks (75/75)
1. The Bride and the Beast by Teresa Medeiros (1/28/09)
2. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (2/11/09)
3. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (2/19/09)

Tasks Completed: 33
Books Read: 34
Pages Read: 10,047
Points Earned: 375

I'm done!!!! With 9 minutes to spare!! I'll post again...

I have a feeling that it is going to be much more challenging to finish the spring challenge because there are 41 books so far and that is not including Darla's and Cassie's 25 point task and the 50 point task that will be announced mid-challenge!

It's 8:41 p.m. and I'm officially ending my quest to finish the Winter Challenge. 255 points isn't too bad for my first attempt. I'll try to beat that in the Spring Challenge.

This was fun...and a bit draining at times, but quite worth it.

See you all on the Spring Challenge forum.

Congratulations to everyone who reached their goals for the Winter Challenge! I definitely didn't do well this time (I only reached 85 points), but I've got a great list for Spring and I'm feeling motivated! I'm going to get started on the new challenge tonight.

Cynthia - I think I'm supposed to have 85 points now, actually (I'm Jamie - MN). Thanks!

well done Cassie!, dont forget to send your 25 pointer in

Phew,I just finished the following task:

3. Lisa's Task - Read a book of at least 700 pages.
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

25 points

Final Tally: 14 tasks/195 points

5 POINT TASKS
1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelo
2. Multiple Blessings: Surviving to Thriving with Twins and Sextuplets by Jon and Kate Gosselin
3. Grace by Linda Ford
4. Light on Snow byAnita Shreve
5. Circle of Grace: A Novel by Penelope J. Stokes
6. In the Land of Invisible Women by Qanta A. Ahmed, MD
7. Where Are You Now? A Novel by Mary Higgins Clark
8. Finding Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn
9. Down the Rabbit Hole: An Echo Falls Mystery by Peter Abrahams
10. Girl Interrupted by Susanne Kaysen

Points: 50/50
Tasks: 10/10

10 POINT TASKS
1. Chinese Cinderella and Secret Dragon Society by Adeline Yen Mah
2. Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark
3. God’s Gift by Dee Henderson
4. He Loves Me: The Relationship God Has Always Wanted with You.
By Wayne Jacobsen
5. The Invisible by Andrew Britton (Tipton-Fiction)
6. Austenland by Shannon Hale
7. Phantom Waltz by Catherine Anderson
8. The Shiek and the Princess Bride by Susan Mallery
9. A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve
10. Change of Heart of Jodi Picoult
Points: 100/100
Tasks: 10/10

15 POINT TASKs
1. The Birth of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Roberta Hughes Wright
2. Cupid’s Corner by Annie Jones
3. Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleysis
4. Rekindled (Fountain Creek Chronicles, Book #1)—Revealed (Fountain Creek Chronicles, Book #2)
By Tamera Alexander
5. These is my words: A Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine Nancy E. Turner --entrepreneur
6. George and Martha Washington by Mary Higgins Clark
7. The Everything Judaism Book by Richard Bank
8. Early Childhood Education for Down Syndrome: Time to Begin by
Valentine Dmitriev Learning even more about my job
9. Loretta Lynn Coal Miner’s Daughter by Loretta Lynn with George Vecsey
10. Lincoln A Photobiography by Russell Freedman
Points: 120/150
Tasks: 8/10

25 POINT TASKS
1. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
2. The Widow of Larkspun Inn by Lawana Blackwell
3. Outlander

Points: 75/75
Tasks: 3/3

Total Points : 375/375

It came down to the wire for me. I can't read books I find boring. But at last, I found Coal Miner's Daughter. My grandfather worked in the miners and my grandmother received Black Lung Benefits until her death. It was an amazing read that ended my list quite nicely.

I finsihed The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread for my put a bunch of books in a hat and draw one out. The end was very good, but all the pages leading up to it, not so much.

That puts me at 190. I was shooting for 200, but I can't see fitting any other books in today. Oh well, that's what the Spring Challenge is for!

15 points
7. Read A Non-Fiction Book About A Religion Other
Than Your Own.

Hinduism

total points 275

Sara! stop chatting and get your nose in that last book - i wont tell you again lol

thanks Beth xx

WTG Jon!

Ok Cynthia, just finished my last book for this challenge - The Birthing House by Charles Ransom (ugh!!!) for the new author task, 5 points, which takes me to a total of

125 points

hope to make 200 points for the Spring Challenge!

And im finally done!
Good book to finish up with:
5pnts, 7. Book Whose Title Starts With What. Etc What I Loved Siri Hustveldt

Read So Far:

5 POINT TASKS
1. Read A Book With A Main Character Who Is African American Now is the Time to open your heart Alice Walker
2. Visit Your Local Library Middlesex
3. For Valentine’s Day: Read a Romance Novel. Brokeback Mountain Annie Proulx
4. Winter Weather Word Love in a Cold Climate Nancy Mitford
5. Read a book From Your TBR List, The Lovely Bones
6. New Author. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
7. Book Whose Title Starts With What. Etc What I Loved Siri Hustveldt
8. Read A Book Whose Title Contains The Word Winter etc - Closed for Winter Georgia Blain
9. Mystery Novel. Peril at End House Hercule Poirot Agatha Christie
10.Book you’ve Already Seen the Film To. The Hours Michael Cunningham

10 POINT TASKS
1.Read a Book That Takes Place in China/Chinese The Joy Luck Club Amy Tan
2. Read a Book with a Holiday Song in the Title. Silent Night Mary Higgins Clark
Arghh I should get 50 pnts for that ordeal!
3. For Christmas: Book with God etc in title The God of Small Things
4. Book with the Word Love Love in the Time of Cholera Garcia Marquez
5. Read A Book By An Author Who Died This Year. 2001: A Space Odyssey
6. Ancestry Challenge Amsterdam I’m from UK and is set in London
7. Book Where The Main Character Is Handicapped. The Bell Jar
8. Read Title Containing The Word Queen, King etc The Madness of George III Alan Bennett (correct title of my edition is actually the madness of King George
9. Read A Book With December, January, Or February etc February Flowers Fan Wu
10. Title Containing The Name Of A Body Part The Bone PeopleKeri Hulme

15 POINT TASKS
1. Takes Place during Civil Rights Period The Secret Life of Bees
2. For Christmas: Read a Book with the word Santa, etc Santa Evita Tomas Martinez
3. Read a Book with the Word Chocolate Like Water for Chocolate
4. Book And It's Sequel.:
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Book 8
The Miracle at Speedy Motors No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Book 9
5. Read A Book Where One Of The Main Characters Has The Same Profession As You
Family Village Tribe: The Story of Flight Centre Limited
6. Read A Historical Fiction Music and Silence (subject Christian iv of Denmark)
7. Read A Book About A Religion The Dalai Lama's Book of Wisdom
8. New Year's Resolution (read at least 1 book from the 1001 books list each month) Hideous Kinky Esther Freud
9. Best Adapted Screenplay Category To Kill a Mockingbird
10. Read A Book About Politics/Politicians Russia's Secret Rulers Leo TimoFeyev

25 POINT TASKS
1. Set in country starting with J (Japan) Memoirs of a Geisha
2. Read a book that you have started but never finished. Atonement
3. 700pages. Nab End and Beyond: The Road to Nab End and Beyond Nab End William Woodruff

SCORE 28/2/09
Total = 375Pts
Tasks completed 33/33

10 points
7. Read A Book Where The Main Character Is Mentally Or Physically Handicapped.


Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

total 260 points


I think somebody used the book for this task...

Cassie wrote: "I finally finished "The Everything Judiasm Book" but I can't get into Little Women. (And I remember loving it as a young girl.) I will go to the library for something else tomorrow, but we'll see. I hate to give up with one book to go..."

Which task were you reading Little Women for?

EDIT: I just searched through the site...

9. The Oscar’s are coming: Read a Book or Play Whose Movie Counterpart Was Nominated or That Won in the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay Category and Watch the Film.

Instead of reading my last book... nrrr.... I'll look for books for you....

5 Point Tasks
1:Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (12/10/08)
2:Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris (12/26/08)
3:Fool for Love by Eloisa James (02/03/09)
4:Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris (02/22/09)
5:Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (01/26/09)
6:The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (12/02/08)
7:Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas (02/10/09)
8:The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (12/19/08)
9:Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris (01/22/09)

10 Point Tasks
2:Silver Bells by Luanne Rice (12/27/08)
3:Midnight Angel by Lisa Kleypas (01/07/09)
4:The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (01/09/09)
5: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch (1/29/09)
6:The Princess of Burundi by Kjell Eriksson (01/07/09)
8:The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn (02/07/09)
9:The Warmest December by Bernice L. McFadden (12/28/08)
10:Out of My Skin by John Haskell (02/14/09)

15 Point Tasks
2: The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn (1/19/09)
4:Club Dead and Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris (12/17/08) and (12/19/08), respectively.
5:Chasing Dirty Money: Progress on Anti-Money Laundering by Peter Reuter and Edwin M. Truman (2/27/09)
6:The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillippa Gregory (02/13/09)
7:Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer (02/13/09)
8:The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (1/28/09)
9:Atonement by Ian McEwan (2/25/09)
10:The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream by Barack Obama (2/06/09)

25 Point Tasks
1:The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho (12/30/08)
2:Jewel by Brett Lott (12/23/08)
3:Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2/27/09)

Tasks Completed: 28/33
Points: 320/375
I’m Beth from (MN).

And that's it for me! I won't have time to start/finish anything else by tomorrow night's deadline. Can't wait for the spring challenge where I hope to best my score from this round!

I finally finished "The Everything Judiasm Book" but I can't get into Little Women. (And I remember loving it as a young girl.) I will go to the library for something else tomorrow, but we'll see. I hate to give up with one book to go...

Cynthia wrote: "I live in the EST time zone - just a reminder that I'll be accepting points until midnight my time tomorrow - so keep at it and good luck to everyone whose close to the finish line."

Oooh.. good to know. I only have until 11 PM! This book is going REALLY fast though. I think I'll finish it tonight.